Pico-RRU-based network implementation for facilitating 6LOWPAN data access

Abstract

A scheme for providing access to 6LoWPAN data in a Pico-Remote Radio Unit (PRRU)-based wireless access network. In one embodiment, the PRRU network comprises a Baseband Unit (BBU) coupled to one or more remote Radio Hub (RHUB) elements via a first set of CPRI links, each RHUB element in turn coupled to one or more PRRU elements via corresponding second sets of CPRI links. The BBU element comprises an interface for communicating 6LoWPAN data to and from a router coupled to an IPv6 network. The BBU element also includes a bridging functionality operative to determine endpoint PRRU elements' addresses and corresponding RHUB elements' addresses by querying an address mapping database.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method operating at a pico remote radio unit (PRRU) element disposed in an access system for providing access with respect to information in Internet Protocol (IP) version 6 (IPv6) over Low Power Wireless Personal Area Network (6LoWPAN) format, the PRRU comprising one or more processors and the one or more processors configured to perform the method comprising:
 obtaining source data; 
 determining if the source data is compliant with the 6LoWPAN format; and 
 if the source data is compliant with the 6LoWPAN format, then repackaging the 6LoWPAN-compliant source data to be transmitted as upstream 6LoWPAN data (6LO) signals in one or more control/management (C/M) messages of Common Public Radio Interface (CPRI) protocol operating with an Ethernet cable link disposed between the PRRU element and a remote radio hub (RHUB) element coupled thereto and providing the upstream 6LO data signals to a cable front-end (FE) block interfacing with the Ethernet cable link. 
 
     
     
       2. The method as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 upon determining that the source data is not 6LoWPAN-compliant, packaging the non-compliant source data as 6LoWPAN data (“6LO data”) packets; and 
 repackaging the 6LO data packets to be transmitted as the upstream 6LO data signals. 
 
     
     
       3. The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the source data is obtained from a sensor component comprising at least one or more of temperature sensors, moisture sensors, light sensors, pressure sensors, motion sensors, biological sensors, chemical sensors, and/or environmental quality sensors. 
     
     
       4. The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the source data is obtained via a 6LoWPAN access point (AP) configured to facilitate transmission and reception of 6LoWPAN data packets with respect to one or more 6LoWPAN-compliant devices associated with the access system. 
     
     
       5. A pico remote radio unit (PRRU) element operable in an access system for providing access with respect to information in Internet Protocol (IP) version 6 (IPv6) over Low Power Wireless Personal Area Network (6LoWPAN) format, the PRRU element comprising:
 one or more processors; 
 a cable front-end (FE) block coupled to the one or more processors and configured to interface with an Ethernet cable link connecting to a remote radio hub (RHUB) element disposed in the access system, the cable FE block operating to facilitate transfer of 6LoWPAN data (6LO data) signals and radio communications data signals in a format compliant with Common Public Radio Interface (CPRI) protocol operating with the Ethernet cable link; 
 a radio FE block coupled to the cable FE block and the one or more processors, and an antenna operative to receive and transmit the radio communications data signals for effectuating radio communications with respect to one or more user equipment (UE) devices; 
 a sensor component coupled to the one or more processors and configured to generate sensor data with respect to a measurement variable; 
 the one or more processors coupled to the sensor component and configured to facilitate packaging of the sensor data as 6LoWPAN data (6LO data) packets; and 
 a control channel repackager coupled to the one or more processors and operative under control of the one or more processors for repackaging the 6LO data packets to be transmitted as upstream 6LO data signals in one or more control/management (C/M) messages of the CPRI protocol operating with the Ethernet cable link. 
 
     
     
       6. The PRRU element as recited in  claim 5 , wherein the sensor component comprises at least one or more of temperature sensors, moisture sensors, light sensors, pressure sensors, motion sensors, biological sensors, chemical sensors, and/or environmental quality sensors. 
     
     
       7. The PRRU element as recited in  claim 6 , wherein the cable FE block is operative to transmit and receive the radio communications data signals to and from the RHUB element relative to the radio communications as in-phase, quadrature (IQ) data flows compliant with the CPRI protocol. 
     
     
       8. The PRRU element as recited in  claim 7 , wherein the cable FE block is operative to multiplex the IQ data flows relative to the radio communications with the CPRI C/M messages relative to the 6LO data signals. 
     
     
       9. The PRRU element as recited in  claim 5 , wherein the radio communications comprise at least one of 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP)-compliant cellular radio communications and IEEE 802.11 communications. 
     
     
       10. A method operating at a baseband unit (BBU) element of an access system for providing access with respect to information in Internet Protocol (IP) version 6 (IPv6) over Low Power Wireless Personal Area Network (6LoWPAN) format, the BBU element comprising one or more processors and the one or more processors configured to perform the method comprising:
 receiving 6LoWPAN data (“6LO data”) packets from a router coupled to an external packet-switched network; 
 examining a destination IP address of the 6LO data packets and determining an address of at least one pico remote radio unit (PRRU) element to which the 6LO data packets are to be delivered; 
 determining an address of a remote radio hub (RHUB) element corresponding to the at least one PRRU element; 
 repackaging the 6LO data packets in a format specified for a control/management (C/M) channel associated with a communication link disposed between the BBU and the RHUB elements and operable with Common Public Radio Interface (CPRI) protocol; and 
 transmitting the repackaged 6LO data packets to the RHUB element as one or more CPRI control/management (C/M) messages via the communication link operable with CPRI protocol, the CPRI C/M messages including the address of the at least one PRRU element. 
 
     
     
       11. The method as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the at least one PRRU element's address is determined by querying an IP-to-PRRU address mapping relationship database. 
     
     
       12. The method as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the corresponding RHUB element's address is determined by querying a PRRU-to-RHUB address mapping relationship database. 
     
     
       13. The method as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the at least one PRRU element's address and the RHUB element's address are determined by querying an IP-to-PRRU-to-RHUB address mapping relationship database. 
     
     
       14. The method as recited in  claim 10 , further comprising:
 generating, at the BBU element, cellular communications radio bits relative to radio communications received from a cellular core network, wherein the cellular communications radio bits destined for the at least one PRRU element; and 
 multiplexing the cellular communications radio bits as in-phase and quadrature (IQ) data in a user plane of the CPRI protocol for transmission to the corresponding RHUB element via the communication link disposed between the BBU and the RHUB elements. 
 
     
     
       15. An apparatus for providing access with respect to information in Internet Protocol (IP) version 6 (IPv6) over Low Power Wireless Personal Area Network (6LoWPAN) format, the apparatus comprising:
 one or more processors; 
 a baseband unit (BBU) element coupled to the one or more processors and the BBU element having a baseband module that is configured to interface with a cellular telephony and data network, the BBU element including an interface for receiving 6LoWPAN data (6LO data) packets from a router coupled to an external packet-switched network; 
 a bridging function module coupled to the one or more processors and the BBU element, the bridging function module configured to: 
 examine a destination IP address of the 6LO data packets and determine an address of at least one pico remote radio unit (PRRU) element to which the 6LO data packets are to be delivered; 
 determine an address of a remote radio hub (RHUB) element corresponding to the at least one PRRU element; and 
 repackage the 6LO data packets in a format specified for a control/management (C/M) channel associated with a communication link disposed between the BBU element and the corresponding RHUB element and operable with Common Public Radio Interface (CPRI) protocol; and 
 a transceiver module coupled to the one or more processors and the BBU element, the transceiver module configured to transmit the repackaged 6LO data packets to the corresponding RHUB element as a CPRI C/M message via the communication link operable with the CPRI protocol, the CPRI C/M message including the address of the at least one PRRU element. 
 
     
     
       16. The apparatus as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the bridging function module is operative to determine the at least one PRRU element's address and the corresponding RHUB element's address by querying an IP-to-PRRU-to-RHUB address mapping relationship database. 
     
     
       17. The apparatus as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the at least one PRRU element includes a sensor component. 
     
     
       18. The apparatus as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the at least one PRRU element includes a 6LO access point (AP). 
     
     
       19. The apparatus as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the communication link comprises at least one of an optical transmission link and an electrical transmission link. 
     
     
       20. The apparatus as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the BBU and the RHUB elements are integrated as a single element. 
     
     
       21. The apparatus as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the baseband module is configured to:
 generate cellular communications radio bits relative to wireless communications received from the cellular telephony and data network, wherein the cellular communications radio bits destined for the at least one PRRU element; and 
 multiplex the cellular communications radio bits as in-phase and quadrature (IQ) data in a user plane of the CPRI protocol for transmission to the corresponding RHUB element via the communication link. 
 
     
     
       22. The apparatus as recited in  claim 21 , wherein the cellular communications bits correspond to 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP)-compliant cellular radio communications involving the at least one PRRU element. 
     
     
       23. A method operating at a remote radio hub (RHUB) element of an access system providing access with respect to information in Internet Protocol (IP) version 6 (IPv6) over Low Power Wireless Personal Area Network (6LoWPAN) format, the RHUB element comprising one or more processors and the one or more processors configured to perform the method comprising:
 receiving 6LoWPAN data (6LO data) packets from a baseband unit (BBU) element coupled to an external packet-switched network, wherein the 6LO data packets are packaged in a first control/management (C/M) channel message associated with a communication link operable with Common Public Radio Interface (CPRI) protocol; 
 unpacking the C/M message and obtaining a destination address of a pico remote radio unit (PRRU) element to which the 6LO data packets are to be delivered; and 
 repackaging the 6LO data packets in a second CPRI control/management (C/M) message and transmitting the second CPRI C/M message to the at least one PRRU element via an Ethernet cable link operative with the CPRI protocol. 
 
     
     
       24. An apparatus for facilitating access with respect to information in Internet Protocol (IP) version 6 (IPv6) over Low Power Wireless Personal Area Network (6LoWPAN) format, the apparatus comprising:
 one or more processors; 
 a bridging function module coupled to the one or more processors and including an interface for receiving 6LoWPAN data (6LO data) packets from a router coupled to an external packet-switched network, the bridging function module configured to:
 examine a destination IP address of the 6LO data packets and determine an address of at least one pico remote radio unit (PRRU) element to which the 6LO data packets are to be delivered; and 
 repackage the 6LO data packets in a format specified for a control/management (C/M) channel of Common Public Radio Interface (CPRI) protocol operating with an Ethernet communication link coupled to the at least one PRRU element; and 
 
 a transceiver module coupled to the bridging module and one or more processors, the transceiver module configured to transmit the repackaged 6LO data packets to the at least one PRRU element as a CPRI C/M message via the Ethernet communication link operable with CPRI protocol. 
 
     
     
       25. The apparatus as recited in  claim 24 , wherein the bridging function module is operative to determine the at least one PRRU element's address by querying an IP-to-PRRU address mapping relationship database. 
     
     
       26. The apparatus as recited in  claim 24 , wherein the at least one PRRU element includes a sensor component. 
     
     
       27. The apparatus as recited in  claim 24 , wherein the at least one PRRU element includes a 6LO access point (AP).